The Federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides economic stimulus funding for many Americans. Included within the act were Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds, designed to assist qualifying students with financial relief related to disruption of campus operations and classes due to the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has allocated $7,039,204 to CSN to award as emergency cash grants to College of Southern Nevada students. The entire amount of $7,039,204 was distributed to students using the criteria below.
Do I qualify for funding from the federal CARES Act?
You may. Students who qualify for CARES Act funding will receive funding automatically. Specific details are listed below, but in general, students must have been eligible to receive financial aid for the 2019–20 academic year and must not have been exclusively enrolled in online courses before March 13, 2020.
Who is eligible for CARES Act funding?
You are eligible for the CARES Act funds if you:
- have completed a 2019–20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), listed the College of Southern Nevada on the application, and met all of the eligibility requirements to receive federal financial aid;
- have completed all required actions for financial aid (i.e., verification, etc.);
- are not be in default of a federal student loan or have been overpaid on a federal grant;
- were not exclusively enrolled in online courses before March 13, 2020;
- are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
- have a valid Social Security Number;
- have registered with the Selective Service System, if you are male;
- have a high school diploma or equivalent;
- have declared and are enrolled in a degree or certificate program; and
- are a student with a status of good, warning or probationary satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
Students who were enrolled exclusively in all online courses before March 13, 2020 are not eligible for CARES Act funds.
How many students were eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus received CARES funding?
As of October 13, 2020, we distributed funds to 9,624 students.
How much CARES Act funding will I receive?
Awards will be between $200 and $1000 and were calculated based on the enrollment status of four groups: full-time students, three-quarter-time students, half-time students and less-than-half-time students. For example, students enrolled full time (12 credits or more) paid the highest registration and student fee amounts. Therefore, this group experienced more significant financial loss and expenses due to the disruption of CSN campus operations. In addition, students with an Expected Family Contribution of zero will receive an additional percentage of the emergency aid funding. view the methodology used to determine the students who received funding.
How will funds be distributed?
We will process your payment through the Cashier’s Office as one amount arriving via check by mail or through direct deposit. Payments will be processed and automatically distributed through the CSN Cashier’s Office. Once CSN has processed the payments, you will be able to view your award in your MyCSN student account.
What if I need financial assistance, but I don’t meet the eligibility requirements for the CARES Act?
Please consider applying for the CSN Student Emergency Fund. For full details, visit the . Then fill out the emergency fund application.
International, undocumented and DACA students are not eligible for CARES Act funds but can apply for the CSN Student Emergency Fund.
What if I have questions about the CARES Act funding?
Please email CSN’s Financial Aid Office.
When was acknowledgement signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance given that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students?
CSN completed the Application and Certification for the CARES funding on April 22 and our Award Notification on May 1, 2020.
How were the students and the campus community notified?
CSN President Dr. Federico Zaragoza informed college faculty, staff and students of the impending awards in a personal email on May 6, 2020. A subsequent award email to all eligible students was sent by the CSN Financial Aid Office on May, 8, 2020.